Football is gauged by wins, playoffs, and most importantly, Super Bowls.
It has been widely popularized by Boston fans that without Belichick, Parcells would not be known as a head coach football icon… hopefully, that is from more of a knock against the NY media than the accomplishments by the man. But I am just as certain that NY fans say the converse against the Boston media, too.
Personally, I think Crennel (and Weis) were the real enablers of that media-hyped dynamic duo, because where would both of them be without Crennel? I throw (and Weis) in there, because it’s not his fault he was missing prior to the 1990 campaign, but he certainly has a strong NFL resume when Weis is joined with Crennel.
Here are my points to support this claim:
1) Playoff record of Parcells and Belichick, with Crennel (and Weis):
… as World Champions:
1986: Parcells, Belichick, Crennel (NYG, 17-2)
1990: Parcells, Belichick, Crennel, Weis (NYG, 16-3)
2001: Belichick, Crennel, Weis (NE, 14-5)
2003: Belichick, Crennel, Weis (NE, 17-2)
2004: Belichick, Crennel, Weis (NE, 17-2)
… reached the Super Bowl:
1996: Parcells, Belichick, Crennel, Weis (NE, 13-6)
… reached the Playoffs:
1984: Parcells, Belichick, Crennel (NYG, 10-8)
1985: Parcells, Belichick, Crennel (NYG, 11-7)
1998: Parcells, Belichick, Crennel, Weis (NYJ, 13-5)
The duo is 20-4 in the playoffs and 5 rings, because they had Crennel (and Weis); with Weis, 15-2 and 4 rings.
Now, the above alone does not make my point complete, unless you combine it with Belichick and Parcells resumes, which are replete with mediocrity:
2) Parcells and Belichick as head coaches, but without Crennel (and Weis):
1983: Parcells (NYG, 3-12-1), inherited 17-24 (4-5, 9-7, 4-12) team, 1-1 playoffs
1991: Belichick (CLE, 3-13), inherited 22-25 (3-13, 9-6, 10-6) team, 1-2 playoffs
1992: Belichick (CLE, 7-9)
1993: Belichick (CLE, 7-9); and Parcells (NE, 5-11), inherited 9-39 (2-14, 6-10, 1-15) team, no playoffs
1994: Belichick (CLE, 11-5), 1-1 playoffs; and Parcells (NE, 10-6), 0-1 playoffs
1995: Belichick (CLE, 5-11); and Parcells (NE, 6-10)
1999: Belichick (NE, 8-8), inherited 30-18 (9-7, 10-6, 11-5) team, 3-3 playoffs
2000: Belichick (NE, 5-11); hires Weis
2003: Parcells (DAL, 10-6), 0-1 playoffs, inherited 15-33 (5-11, 5-11, 5-11) team, no playoffs
2004: Parcells (DAL, 6-10)
2005: Belichick (NE, 10-6), 1-1 playoffs; and Parcells (DAL, 9-7)
2006: Belichick (NE, 12-4), 2-1 playoffs; and Parcells (DAL, 9-7), 0-1 playoffs
2007: Belichick (NE, 16-*), 2-1 playoffs
2008: Belichick (NE, 10-6)
2009: Belichick (NE, 10-6), 0-1 playoffs
2010: Belichick (NE, 14-2), 0-1 playoffs
2011: Belichick (NE, 5-3), playoffs?
… Playoff record without each other, AND WITHOUT CRENNEL (and WEIS):
Belichick (5-5), 0 rings
Parcells (0-3), 0 rings
It can be noted here that Belichick alone has had a lot more opportunity, but he also inherited successful teams, whereas Parcells inherited dismal teams. But those teams did not become legendary until Crennel (and Weis) joined them.
